Japanese markets closed lower Thursday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped more than one-half of one percent to finish at 8,982.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.59 yen, a loss of just over one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

The Taipei market finished at 7,719, a loss of nearly one-quarter of one percent .